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Original poster

GP’s manner over babies vaccines

279 replies

SLiath · 21/08/2024 15:23

I just had a voicemail from a woman at my GP’s practice. The only way to describe her tone is condescending. She asked if I had a chance to speak with “hubby” about getting immunisations for my two twins. I am a single mother. I had the first round which made them very poorly and declined the second for the time being I was concerned for their health. They were born premature and we spent 5 weeks in NICU so didn’t want anything impacting their feeding. She then stated with a very snarky tone that if I was not having them immunised I need to go to the practice to sign a form because the “child health surveillance team keeps emailing her.” I have had some hesitance to get the vaccines due to some mistrust in the NHS. This voicemail has now increased that trust. Has anyone had a similar experience?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Sirzy · 21/08/2024 19:46

Greybobblyowl · 21/08/2024 19:43

And that’s what’s important and what a good parent does. You’ll get people shouting at you about herd immunity and how you’re selfish BUT that’s not the case. Getting your own dc vaccinated in a way that’s safest for them is the priority and better late than never and ultimately does benefit others but the truth is every parent will put their own child first and that’s ok !

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The way that is safest - unless medical advice for that individual says otherwise - is the schedule that has been put in place with knowledge of the vaccines and risks.

There is no proper evidence to suggest that not vaccinating a child (with no medical reason not to) is in the best interest of anyone.

the more people who decide they know better the more lives will be put at risk.

Greybobblyowl · 21/08/2024 19:49

Sirzy · 21/08/2024 19:46

The way that is safest - unless medical advice for that individual says otherwise - is the schedule that has been put in place with knowledge of the vaccines and risks.

There is no proper evidence to suggest that not vaccinating a child (with no medical reason not to) is in the best interest of anyone.

the more people who decide they know better the more lives will be put at risk.

Show quote history

My GP and my dc allergy consultant both said that splitting the vaccines and having some delays wasn’t going to make a huge difference, they were absolutely fine with it and we did some in the day unit and others at the gp. They said it’s be aiming more common to use this approach and they just want children vaccinated it doesn’t have to be by the standard schedule.

Greybobblyowl · 21/08/2024 19:50

The consultant actually said to me that it’s only known to be ok to do all those vaccines together at 8,12,16 weeks and 1 year if you want to not whether it’s the most effective way or if a different schedule is just as effective - he said what we were doing was absolutely just as good

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PolaroidPrincess · 21/08/2024 19:52

I can't imagine how stressful it must have been having DTs alone, especially with the added stress of them being in NICU.

How poorly were they with their first round of vaccinations?

lazysummerdayz · 21/08/2024 19:53

declined the second for the time being I was concerned for their health.

I'm sure you'd be even more concerned if they caught one of the deadly diseases that the vaccinations are designed to prevent

fizzwhizz1 · 21/08/2024 19:56

@Greybobblyowl Thank you. You've explained it much more eloquently than I could

Hayley1256 · 21/08/2024 19:57

These jabs are really important. I would ignore her tone and make a complaint if you wish to do so but you need to get your babies sorted. I was horrified to see how many babies had recently died of whooping cough due to their mums not getting vaccinated - such a waste of life!

DrinkElephants · 21/08/2024 20:07

Just get them vaccinated!

Beadyeyes91 · 21/08/2024 20:39

My boy is 11 months. I'd rather he felt unwell for a few days as opposed to contracting a potentially fatal disease. It's horrid to see them unwell but you're doing it for their benefit. The same as taking them to the dentist etc when they're older. Sometimes we have to make decisions our babies/children won't like but are for their health and wellbeing long term.

Concretejungle1 · 21/08/2024 20:42

As a child who was in the nicu, understand, but get them vaccinated. Nothing is worst than you thinking you are protecting them and them then catching an illness.
i was not vaccinated for similar reasons, i then caught an illness that you vaccinate for and they thought they were going to lose me.
i have permanently damaged hearing from this.

TinyTeachr · 21/08/2024 21:06

Talk to your GP or practice nurse, NOT the receptionist.

My preemie twins were tiny. At 2 months old they were terribly scawny and gaining weight was very important to them. Our GP recommended having their vaccinations when their adjusted age was 2months+ and they were above 25th centile for 2 months. That was about a 6 week delay for us.

The receptionist won't know about the medical side for your twins. She just chases up based on birth date.

Being premature is not not reason not to vaccinate. But it might be a reason to delay slightly, weight gain is important for tiny ones and it's not unreasonable to wantnot to affect that.

KerryBlues · 21/08/2024 21:14

BoundaryGirl3939 · 21/08/2024 15:52

You are their mother, and you know your children better than anyone else. Go with your instinct.

This is shamefully ignorant nonsense.

HauntedbyMagpies · 21/08/2024 21:20

Unless you're a virologist or have been in the laboratories whilst the vaccines were created then you have no right to deprive your children of what will keep them safe. They are relying on you to protect them!

Ellythe · 21/08/2024 21:21

BoundaryGirl3939 · 21/08/2024 15:52

You are their mother, and you know your children better than anyone else. Go with your instinct.

it should be mandatory to have vaccines before you start school or parents should sign a waiver saying 'my baby my rules' and have to pay for an icu bed when their unvaccinated child catches measles or a vaccinated disease

Ellythe · 21/08/2024 21:24

Or make it so children can sue their parents for the unrecoverable damage by catching vaccinated diseases.

Mumps- male infertility
Rubella- deafness
Polio.. well that ones obvious
Rheumatic fever- heart failure

You know important ones

Greybobblyowl · 21/08/2024 22:04

Ellythe · 21/08/2024 21:24

Or make it so children can sue their parents for the unrecoverable damage by catching vaccinated diseases.

Mumps- male infertility
Rubella- deafness
Polio.. well that ones obvious
Rheumatic fever- heart failure

You know important ones

Rheumatic fever ? Is there a vaccine for that I thought it was a complication of strep A?

AgileGreenSeal · 21/08/2024 22:29

theworldsmad · 21/08/2024 18:53

Ah I'm sorry op. I hate the way people talk about vaccines and the lack of knowledge, not just from the public (ie mumsnetters) but health practitioners in general.
For example, we know that once you contract TB it never really goes away, it just stays latent in your body. I asked my GP as well as nurse whether this is the same with the vaccine, they couldn't answer. I just wanted to know! They just spout the condescending 'go and research the illnesses ant think whether you want your child to get that'.
I have, thank you Jane but I've also researched the vaccines and know that certain vaccines for example improve all cause mortality and others worsen it. (Ie children are more likely to die from other causes after they've received certain vaccines). Can br the other way around as well. Measles vaccine is an example of a vaccine that improves all cause mortality. So children in Africa die less after receiving the measles vaccine at a rate more than what you would expect- you would expect them not to die from measles but now they're overall dying less. And some vaccines like I said inexplicably increases child mortality. ( They improve the rates for the specific illness, but cause higher mortality overall )
And we're only now really starting to research it. Esp since COVID since the COVID vax was so controversial.
It was the first time people actually started to think about childhood vaccines and how they've increased dramatically in the past few decades.
I wish our health care workers were able to explain it more but all they know and get taught is 'children should get their vaccines'. Theyre not taught to think critically.

Another example is the rota virus vaccine. My son was born abroad and so I am only remembering this country's vax schedule. Anyway they give rotavirus at 8 and 12 weeks. And if a child for some reason hasn't gotten their rota virus vax before a certain cut off point (I think it's 20 weeks) then you don't give it anymore. (Because it's given to kids because their immune system isn't fully developed, after a certain point kids are generally robust enough to not have e problem with rota virus - it's just diarrhea).
Anyway when my daughter was born it was during heavy lockdown. Nobody was allowed in or out our house obv. So my daughter couldn't contract rotavirus ( generally spread at soft play or nursery or whatever by child who didn't wipe his hands well and then touches toy, other kids then pop toy in mouth).
When I brought this up obv gp just said every child should receive it etc. No critical thinking that says every medicine or vaccine has a cost. Nothing is cost free. But you weigh it up. Advantages vs disadvantages. Measles kills x amount of babies per year vs VAERS only report x amount of vaccine injuries or negative effects. Other questions to ask are how healthy is baby? ( If sick, baby is more likely to have a negative impact from vaccine) how likely are you to contract it and how bad will effects be( think flu vaccines that are more likely to affect older people vs young healthy male normally dont die from flu.
Yet none of this risk factors are ever taken into account when talking about vaccines. People are just like YOU HAVE TO VACCINATE, HOW DARE YOU NOT? you're a conspiracy theorist et cetera.
When there are legitimate concerns regarding vaccines? I wish they would rather acknowledge the concerns a be able to hold a conversation about it and maybe put my mind at rest. Then I'll happily vaccinate. But now they do t have answers and basically treat you like criminal idiot mom. It's making me more sceptical, not less

Very well said. 👏🏻

Calliopespa · 21/08/2024 22:33

The bit about hubby was condescending but I do think the rest of it was doing her job.

Im sorry to hear your Dc were unwell with the first ones. Have they explained what this could have been? I’ve honestly not heard of it and couldn’t get the vaccines into mine fast enough. I’d be really reluctant to pass them up op, though I understand a bad first experience would be worrying.

At the end of the day op, they protect them from really hideous diseases.

AgathaSultana · 21/08/2024 22:37

Good for you standing your ground. You'll find they'll try to pressure you into getting the vaccines constantly now, it's frustrating.

Mischance · 21/08/2024 22:40

My DD caught whooping cough when she was 4. She is now in her 40s and has spent over 30 years struggling with chest problems. I will never forgive myself for not getting her vaccinated against this. I made a bad mistake.

Tonight37 · 21/08/2024 22:40

You need to vaccinate your children. I’m sure you weren’t so mistrusting of the NHS when they were being cared for in NICU. They’ll be back in hospital if they contract any of the potentially deadly illnesses vaccines protect them from

GoadyMcBigot · 21/08/2024 22:42

BoundaryGirl3939 · 21/08/2024 15:52

You are their mother, and you know your children better than anyone else. Go with your instinct.

The most idiotic response imaginable.

OP - get your children vaccinated FFS

stop wasting your GP’s time.

Loubelle70 · 21/08/2024 22:49

BoundaryGirl3939 · 21/08/2024 15:52

You are their mother, and you know your children better than anyone else. Go with your instinct.

This. Make your own informed decision, you are their mum, no one else. X

Loubelle70 · 21/08/2024 22:51

GoadyMcBigot · 21/08/2024 22:42

The most idiotic response imaginable.

OP - get your children vaccinated FFS

stop wasting your GP’s time.

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Everyone has the right to have their view. 'idiotic ' ? just because she doesnt agree with you...i dont think its an idiotic reply. I agree its up to mum and her instincts.

toddlermum13 · 21/08/2024 22:52

My LO has extremely severe allergies and has been told by doctors and the allergy paediatrician he isn't allowed 2 specific vaccines and I get voicemails and calls every week despite me telling them every single time we are waiting for the go ahead from the hospital. Drives me mad

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